Gay groups in Taiwan are so angry that the government is not
protecting their rights, they plan to set up a country for gay men
and lesbians called the Rainbow Republic, Deutsche Presse-Agentur
reported Friday.

They aren't joking. Even the new government's logo will be the
rainbow flag.

"We will begin preparations next year and start by renting an office
to house the government of the Rainbow Republic. The Rainbow Republic
will have a parliament, a foreign ministry, and court to register gay
marriages," Chan Ming-chou, director-general of the Taiwan Gay and
Lesbian Human Rights Association, told reporters at a news
conference. "The republic will issue identity cards to Taiwan
homosexuals and work toward promoting gay rights in Taiwan."

Chan criticized Taiwan's government for taking back its 2001 promise
to legalize marriage for same-sex couples. "So we do not harbor any
hopes anymore. We refuse to accept the jurisdiction of the Taiwan
government and will found our own country and government to protect
our rights," he told the wire service.

Despite Taiwan gay rights activists' complaints, Taiwan is ahead of
most Asian countries in the area of gay rights. The island has one
gay bookstore, one gay hotline, and dozens of gay rights groups,
according to the wire service. The Taiwan government has drafted the
Human Rights Basic Law, which will legalize marriage for gay and
lesbian couples. If passed, the measure will make Taiwan the first
Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage. (Advocate.com)